Nairobi Summit is happening 25 years after the groundbreaking in Cairo where 179 governments unanimously called for the empowerment of women and girls/ Courtesy
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 9 – The government says preparations for Nairobi to host next week’s International Conference on Population and Development are complete.
Speaking during the flag-raising ceremony the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, (KICC) which will is the host venue, acting National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani said the meeting was only a way of inquiring into how far the country had gone in meeting objectives it created in the last similar conference held in Cairo, Egypt.
Yattani: “Undoubtedly this gives us an opportunity as a country, Kenya to not play the regional influence and leadership but also global position in as far as international matters are concerned.”
“We are really honoured to host this event, given the delicate matter at hand of population which appears to of single importance to every nation, because a country is about its people and all aspect about population whether health, welfare and the success and progression particularly about their survival,” he said.
He assured the participants of their security and fruitful deliberations saying that government has for the last two years been working with local and international organizers to ensure ease in accessing the conference document and other facilities.
“The handing over of this facility to the conveyors, will allow them to put in place the final touches for the Summit and I want to indicate once again that we are set to go and we are rolling particularly events opening from today and the end of the Summit,” said the National Treasury CS
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Executive Director Dereje Wordofa said the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 is happening 25 years after the groundbreaking in Cairo where 179 governments unanimously called for the empowerment of women and girls in all spheres of their lives, including sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
“Raising this flags is a symbolic moment for moving beyond a celebration. It is from this moment where we work together to mobilize the political will and the financial commitment we each need to complete the ICPD programme of action,” Wordofa stated.
Held under the theme “Accelerating the Promise”, the summit seeks to galvanize change and mobilize both political will and financial commitment to push forward the unfinished business of the ICPD Programme of Action, as well as build momentum for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Both the government and organizers however steered clear of commenting on the controversy that has been courting the event after religious leaders joined parliamentarians in opposing the country’s hosting of the ICPD25, claiming it was tailored to introduce ideologies and practices that are against the African culture and the religious heritage.
In a statement read by Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) chairperson, Kisumu Archbishop Rev Philip Anyolo, the Church protested that the summit’s agenda had been cunningly crafted to mislead Kenyans into believing that it was aimed at empowering women and girls.
During the Summit, which will take place from Tuesday to Friday, the delegations from several countries commitment to consolidate achievements on gender equality through the empowerment of women and girls across South Africa with initiatives that include preventing and addressing gender-based violence and femicide.
The talks will also look at ways of improving women’s economic security, expanding access to education and the rolling out of the universal health coverage.
